Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel will make his Test debut when England tackle Tri-Nations champions New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 20-year-old from Stockton gains a rapid reward for some superb Premiership displays and is the solitary newcomer named by England boss Clive Woodward.

Leicester and Lions flanker Neil Back, who captained England for part of last season's Six Nations campaign, misses out behind a back row of Lewis Moody, Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio. Hill will become the 12th member of England's 50-cap club.

Matt Dawson has won the scrum-half battle, with the versatile Austin Healey, not Andy Gomarsall, on the bench.

Bath captain Danny Grewcock edges out Ben Kay to partner skipper Martin Johnson in the second row, while Gloucester prop Trevor Woodman wins his sixth cap, but his first appearance in an England starting line-up.

Simpson-Daniel, a product of Sedbergh School which also boasts Will Carling and Will Greenwood among its past pupils, starred for England in a non-cap game versus the Barbarians five months ago.

He scored a stunning solo try, giving Jonah Lomu the runaround, and probably would have been capped against Argentina a month later but for injury.

With Dan Luger and Iain Balshaw still out, Saturday's Test gives Simpson-Daniel a perfect chance to stake his World Cup claim.

Dawson is back for his first start since the Grand Slam-ending defeat by Ireland in October, while loosehead Woodman is also in form, doing enough to see off the challenge of Leonard and Graham Rowntree.

In the back-row, arguably England's most competitive area, Hill starts at openside flanker, and Dallaglio is back as No 8 for the first time in 18 months after injury. Dallaglio, who first came to the sport as a pupil at Ampleforth College, is set to follow Hill to 50 caps seven days later versus the Aussies at Twickenham.

England: Robinson (Sale), Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), Greenwood (Harlequins), Tindall (Bath), Cohen (Northampton), Wilkinson (Newcastle), Dawson (Northampton), Woodman (Gloucester), Thompson (Northampton), Vickery (Gloucester), Johnson (Leicester, capt), Grewcock (Bath), Moody (Leicester), Hill (Saracens), Dallaglio (Wasps). Subs: Regan (Leeds), Leonard (Harlequins), Kay (Leicester), Back (Leicester), Healey (Leicester), Johnston (saracens), Stimpson (Leicester).

Debut glee for York 'A' trio

York RUFC 'A' included three new players as they pulled off a tremendous 19-15 win against Harrogate Georgians.

The Clifton Parkers gave debuts to John Sharpe, an ex-Saracens and New Zealand hooker, former Cleckheaton back five and York cricketer Rob Flack, and new Aussie three-quarter Eric Cannell.

The Harrogate second string began as favourites and, after two Tom Copeland penalties put York 6-0 ahead, the Georgians hit back with a 65-yard three-quarter move to score a wonderful converted try.

But York defended brilliantly and Copeland slotted a 45-yard penalty to restore York's lead.

The visitors then scored a contentious try in the corner from a line-out as the lead changed hands again. However, Copeland kicked his fourth penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Georgians regained the lead with a penalty but York hit back strongly in the final half hour and with injury time looming were rewarded when the referee awarded a penalty try after Harrogate collapsed a scrum. Copeland tagged on the extras.

Run extended

York RUFC Under 7s 'A' extended their unbeaten run to seven matches by beating Driffield 15-10. The 'B' team had an easier time running up a 30-5 victory with tries by Scholey (5), Inman, Garland, Whitby and George.

Updated: 12:28 Tuesday, November 05, 2002